Manna

Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Hebrews 9:3,4

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10


Hidden within the Mercy Seat of Love were three items. 1. The timeless Law spoken yesterday. 2. The provision of life today. 3. The way of leadership into tomorrow. Just as the veil to the Holy of holies was torn by the Lamb’s Blood, so is the veil of my life torn apart by His Love. The more His Presence fills the Seat of my heart, the more I reveal His Word, His Work and His Way in and through my life.

For me, the most personal of these is the gold jar of manna. Like many, I relate the story of the Israelites gathering manna in the morning to gathering the greatest provision of all, God’s Word, for my day. Whenever needed, I can reach into my jar of clay and receive His Breath and Bread.

Recently, though, manna has come to me as moments…dozens and dozens of miraculous moments that display God’s constant provision in the details of my days. The more I hold onto these moments, the faster they dissolve into ruin. The more I celebrate God's moments of provision, the more I enjoy the miracles of His Presence. Again and again.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. –Lamentations 3:23

A Scripture on a Facebook post. An encouraging email. A text. A phone call. A song. A smile. A touch. A glance. A child’s laughter. A friend’s time. I love you. How are you? I’m praying for you. I cherish you. Little moments, huge moments all mix into the drudgery of laundry and dishes and deadlines and, and, and…

Some days are silent. Those moments are when He personally provides His Presence. His Word. His song. His touch. His glance. I love you. I cherish you. I am praying for you. All moments beyond my sight, but more intimate in my heart.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

I may feel like my little jar is running on empty, but the truth is, abundant life is mine every moment of the day. The more I cherish in His moments around me, the more "manna moments" I can give to others.

Listening to Him in study of His Word. Loving Him in the moments of life. Leading others to the Promised Land of His abundant life. Law – study. Live – piety. Lead – action. Seek Him. See Him. Show Him. All wrapped in His never ending Mercy and Grace.

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com

Lost and Found

When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:17-20

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. Robert Robinson, 1758

GILL: Besides, you got your dad out there looking for you. Bet he's on his way right now.
NEMO: Not my dad…
BRUCE, the Shark: Now there's a father looking for his little boy.

I tend to wander off. My grandmother loves to tell of when I was in grade school and she lost me in Woolworth’s. Apparently, I had determined that we were finished and I was waiting for her outside the store! As a teen I would walk along the beach for miles, not thinking twice that anyone would wonder where I was. I was wrong. My parents did wonder and worry until I returned. My reputation precedes me. Last month at Disney, my sister told my niece “not to be like Aunt Chelle and wander off.” So, Madison and I both were watched very carefully in crowds.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer

I generally don’t live moment by moment, in view of my amazing, passionate Father always running to me. Always desiring to hold me and kiss me. Wow. I know this as a fact, but don’t live this as belief. When I decide to wander off, I am not thinking of Him at all. How much more would my wandering lessen if my sights were set on the unseen, until my heart felt the unfathomable?

When I do come to my senses, (again and again) is my drive to come to Him for my relief or for our relationship? Seeing Him for all that He is changes me in all that I am.

Had the prodigal son had any thought that his father desired him to come home as his son, not his servant, it may have quickened his steps to reunite with him. He only thought of his sins, never of his sonship. Once Nemo realized that his father really was searching for him, it completely changed his drive to reunite with him. Again, he only thought of his father’s disappointment over him; not realizing his father’s desire for him.

But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9 From the very beginning, He is a Father searching for wanders. That is His nature of love. Even in this moment…for me.

Should I wander, He is always near. But to see Him as He is; holds and keeps me being here.

Click Here for You Invite Me In


Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com

Battle Lies

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:5-8

"God does not condemn me, Satan does. God convicts me so I can see my error, surrender to Him, pucker up and kiss it good-bye!"- Beth Moore, Measureless Love

Wounds Wept
Sacrifice is a glorious moment of God's victory, and an announcement of my vulnerability. This Sabbath, I brought my sacrifice, gave it one final kiss goodbye…and the enemy was watching. No sooner had I left the temple doors did his attacks begin. As a friend once said, "The enemy meets us at the gates." Does he ever. He likes to wield his favorite weapon: ½ truth of what I see turned to a lie that I feel.

“Whatever is denied cannot be healed.” –Brennan Manning
“A wound that goes unacknowledged and unwept is a wound that cannot heal.” – John Eldredge

I saw and wept over the wound, as I gave it into the Wounded One's healing hands. God, in His mercy, showed me the process and promise: An intended lie became a battle line. Eden had come to the cross for truth and victory.

Tables Turned
As with Isaiah, I came to the face of Holiness..no one else, just Him…and cried of my shame. As He answered with a burning coal from sin’s sacrifice, He brought truth both of His love and my life.

The voice said, “Some days you will disappoint. Some days you will hurt. Some days you will walk alone. Try as you may, you can never totally keep that from happening; it’s just how life rolls.” That may sound harsh, but to me, it was a relief to face the truth that imperfection is inevitable, so I can rest in His love. Simple and profound. Speaking my language.

Then the weight shifted. From weight of me to weight of glory: “But I am your constant. I am here to take every moment that bears down on you, so that we, just you and Me, can walk through. For real.” There is so much more. But, for a moment, desire enveloped disappointment as a tangible reality.

Disappointment to Divine Appointment
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

A few moments after holding my own tears, I held the tears of another who cried in joy over found freedom! I shared words that came straight from God – of His Sovereignty, of His Hope, and of His Love. He took me, literally, from my pit to His pulpit. From feeling alone to feeling atoned. From crying in shame to crying His Name. From wanting to run away to declaring His Grace.

I fall face down in worship, thanksgiving, and praise to the One who rescued me! His voice of Truth spoke freedom in me to speak freedom through me. Constantly.

Click here for "Everything Falls" by Fee

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com

Spirit Fall

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. Revelation 14:2

"The hosts of heaven are sure to hear a thunderous rumble as boulders (of pride) roll off our road to freedom." – Beth Moore

“As I was praying for you, God gave me a dream about you” began my friend Alyssa (Alyssa and I haven’t seen each other since college…yet, this night, God literally connected us in a dream). She continued:

“There was a beautiful waterfall in Boulder, Colorado. I have no idea why in Boulder, but it was very clearly, Boulder, Colorado. You were at the base of the waterfall, waiting. Then I saw the hands of God cup your face. The look of contentment and adoration on your face was amazing!”

That was it. That was the dream. But, that was enough for me. Sitting as His feet. Gazing into His face. How I pray for those "Mary Moments." I know that He is my contentment, my adoration, and my song. But to be there, oh wow. Lord, oh how?

This past weekend I realized why it was the town of Boulder. God had some “boulders” to remove…really remove…before I could join Him at His Spirit fall. Boulders of approval. Boulders of fear. Boulders of unbelief. Boulder of insecurity. Boulders I have tried to move myself. I've tried for myself, not for Him. Once HE moved them: glory to God in the Highest. His Presence is my dream come true.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17 Drenched in His delight, and He in mine.  Silenced in His love, singing in His eyes. Words cannot begin to describe. Seek Him; He finds. Oh, He finds.

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com